Adherence to the above principles will get you the keys to RouterDom.
Moreover, you'll be prepared for almost any ordinary work in the woodshop.
Sure, you must use the right router, guide system, and cutter.
But if you'll accept the fundamentals above, you'll spend little time routing.
Waste about what the cutter and router can stand/pass and they'll be few surprises.
And if in doubt, waste just an 1/8th"/pass (or less) until you understand
the dynamics. With very light cuts, in many situations, there is so little
power transmitted back into the router, (Newton's 3rd law), that you can
rout in any direction without adversity. It is the smartest way to begin
the art. Email pat@patwarner.com about a lesson if you'd like
to know more.